Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers are shedding some salary from the roster.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Clippers were dealing forward P.J. Tucker, center Mo Bamba, a future second-round pick and cash to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Patty Mills and center Drew Eubanks.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
The Los Angeles Clippers are trading PJ Tucker, Mo Bamba, a future second-round pick and cash to the Utah Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills, sources tell me and @BobbyMarks42. pic.twitter.com/YOy5kIUd6z
The move sees the two teams shift some depth players but Bobby Marks of ESPN reported that the swapping of salary puts Los Angeles below the luxury tax and gives the team some options to make a move ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
The trade not only brings the LA Clippers below the luxury tax but gives them optionally at the deadline and buyout market.
The Clippers are now $4M below the tax and have enough flexibility below the first apron.
Tucker, Bamba and Mills are on expiring contracts.
Eubanks has…
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Post trade pic.twitter.com/XNOJ72qy3w
Marks also reported that the team has created a $6.4 million and $2.1 million trade exception as a result of the deal.
Here’s a look at the current shape of the Clippers roster, salary cap and draft capital following the trade.
Clippers Roster
James Harden
Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Derrick Jones Jr.
Ivica Zubac
Kevin Porter Jr.
Drew Eubanks
Patty Mills
Kris Dunn
Terrance Mann
Amir Coffey
Nicolas Batum
Kobe Brown
Bones Hyland
Jordan Miller
Kai Jones
Salary Cap
$11.4 million in first apron space, per Spotrac
$22.1 million in second apron space, per Spotrac
Draft Picks
2025 1st, 2027 1st, 2029 1st, 2030 1st, 2030 2nd, 2031 1st, 2031 second, future Jazz 2nd, per Fanspo
The Clippers are currently 28-20 and sit in sixth in the Western Conference. Shedding Tucker’s $11.5 million contract and replacing it and Bamba’s with the cheaper Eubanks and Mills helps the team provide a shakeup in the locker room and also gives the team some flexibility ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA Trade Deadline.
The Clippers reportedly prefer to keep their salary situation “clean” at this year’s deadline so a big target may be off the table. However, the extra flexibility from moving off of Tucker should make more depth moves viable as the team prepares for a postseason push.
